Sealing construction for trucks, trailers and the like



Jan. 29, 1963 W. R. LOWE SEALING CONSTRUCTION FOR TRUCKS, TRAILERS AND THE LIKE Filed April 7, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 29, 1963 w, R LOWE 3,075,802

SEALING CONSTRUCTION TRUCKS, TRAILERS AND THE LIKE Filed April 7, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY /75 /50 /4 j g ad E Y /777'0 R/v frs,

9F/'5,3% SEALEQG CUN TRUCTUN FR TRUQKS,

TRALES AND lltill William R, Lowe, Upland, assigner to Fruehau Trailer Company, Eetroit, Mich., a corporation or' Michigan Filed Apr. 7, Stel, No. itilftSQ 2. Claims. (El. 29o- 29) This invention relates to an improved, sealed construction for van-type truck and trailer bodies.

Goods transported by truck or highway trailer frequently are damaged by rain or road splash and dirt which enters the body of the vehicle through the joints between adjacent skin panels or floor panels and between the panels and their supporting structural members. All current van-type truck and trailer bodies have this problem as the construction conventionally used simply does not provide a dirt and water-tight structure. Also, a weather-tight and dustproof construction is important in the case of refrigerated trailers in order to maintain er'iicient insulation of lthe trailer walls and to keep the insulating material dry and clean.

An important object of the invention is to provide a novel construction for van-type truck and trailer bodies in which all of the exposed joints are etiectively sealed to assure a weather-tight and dustproof structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a truck and tra-iler body construction in which all of the joints between the skin and iloor panels and between the panels and the supporting structural members are uniquely formed to receive and retain sealing material.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a truck and trailer body construction of the above-mentioned character in which the seal joints are uniquely prestressed to assure a tight initial closure for the sealing 'material without requiring a precision finish or closer tolerances than ordinarily are used for the parts forming the joints and to maintain the sealed joints tight under conditions of exure and Vibration normally encountered in use.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a seal joint of the above type having the above-recited characteristics and advantages that can be incorporated in the trailer without adding appreciably to the manufacturing cost.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, claims and drawings wherein:

FlGURE l is a perspective View of a semi-trailer;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially mong the line 2 2 of FIGURE l;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional View similar to PIG. 2, prior to assembly;

FiG. 4 is an enlarged view of the area within the circle 4 of FGURE l;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional -view taken substantially along the line 5 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view similar to PIG. 5, prior to assembly;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing the nozzle of a sealing compound applicator in alignment with the inlet orice in a wall component;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of an exemplary floor construction of the trailer of FIGURE l; and

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 8 shown prior to assembly.

The sea-ling construction of the present invention utilizes a iiowable sealing compound, for example, a viscous rubber or plastic base sealing compound that is injected between two adjoining and overlapping structural id Patented .lara 29, i953 members or panels of the trailer van. The sealing compound is accommodated in a recess formed in one of the members and retained therein by the overlapping por tion of the other member. One particularly important feature is that the member overlaying the compound receiving recess is biased into line contact with the member having the recess on each side of the recess. Also, because of the novel conguration of the overlapping members, only a single row of rivets, staples, screws or the like is required to maintain the aforementioned spaced line contact between the members.

A plurality of spaced inlet orifices are provided in the overlapping portion of one of the adjoining members in communication with the recess therebetween to provide for the injection of the sealing compound into the recess after assembly. A conical seat is provided around each orifice for the reception of the nozzle of a sealing gun having a complementary conical taper, the orientation of the inlet orifices facilitating such injection. The inlet orifices are spaced longitudinally of the compound receiving recess so that sealing compound flows longitudinally of the recess to efect a continuous seal.

More particularly, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in association with a conventional highway trailer Z. The trailer 2li has a closed van 22 that is supported by a conventional suspension system 24- and forward prop 26. The trailer Ztl is provided with a conventional coupling means (not shown) for attachment to the iifth wheel of a conventional truck-tractor (not shown).

rlhe trailer van 22 comprises rectangularly arranged vertical side and end walls 3Q, a top 32 (FIGURES 2 and 3) and a bottom 3d (FIGURES 8 and 9) each of which comprises a plurality of adjoining panels that are joined and sealed in accordance with the present invention. It is to be understood that one form of the present invention is applicable to each juncture of the adjacent panels comprising the van 22. Generally, each juncture can be described as either a juncture of panels laying in substantially the same plane, or as a juncture of panels that are normally related to one another. An exemplary embodiment of the invention as applied to the junctures normally utilized in trucks, trailers or the like will be more particularly described hereinafter. Normally, the side, end, roof and ii-oor panels of such a trailer a-re reinforced by relatively rigid structural members, the particular conliguration of which forms no part of the present invention except when the juncture of such a member with a panel forms a joint that must be sealed against the intiltration of rain and foreign materials. This condition is found, for example, at corners and along the upper and lower terminal edges of the van whereat suitable corner posts and rails connect the side, end, roof and licor panels, respectively.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 3, a sealing construction in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown for the juncture of a horizontal top panel 32 with a rail portion 36 of a normally related vertically extending side panel Si?. It is to be understood that this embodiment of the invention is exemplary of a sealing construction for the juncture of normally related panels wherever they may be utilized in the trailer' construction.

The rail 36 has a horizontally extending flange dit with a reentrantly directed outer end portion i2 that defines a recess 414 for the acceptance of an outer edge portion do of a retainer member dit. An inner edge portion Sil of the retainer member d is folded upwardly into a terminal flange for the purpose of providing an arcuate pressure ridge 52 on the lower inner edge of the retainer eti and for the purpose of reinforcing the retainer member liti.'

An outer edge portion dit of the top panel 32 is interposed between the retainer member lid and the horizon- 3 t-al tiange 40 of the rail 36 and is seated in a recess 61 in the liange 4t).

As best seen in FIGURE 3, the outer edge portion 60 of the panel S2 is initially superimposed over an upstanding rib 62 on the rail 36 and thereafter is drawn down wardly over an arcuate upper end face V6d on the rib 62 by the retainer member 48. The retainer member 48 is baised downwardly, as by clamps (not shown) and held in the positionfshown in FIG. 2 by a plurality of staples 66 that are spaced longitudinally of the retainer 48 and which extend through the retainer 48, the outer edge 6i) of the top panel 32 and the iiange4t of the side wall of the rail 36.

In accordance with the present invention the upwardly extending rib 62 ou the rail 36 is undercut to define a recess or channel 70 for the acceptance of a suitable sealing compound. The sealing compound is preferably a rubber or plastic based mastic that is initially'liowable thereafter solidifying into a resilient mass,` for example, a Thiohol resin.

The rib portion 62 of the rail 36 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced orifices 72, each of which has a conical seat'74 to facilitate injection of the sealing compound into the recess 7i). The sealing compound is maintained in the recess '70 by the pressurized line engagement of the roof panel 32 withv the arcuate section 64 of the rib 62 and the edge 6i? in the recess 61 of the iiange -40. The panel 32 spans the arcuate section 64 and re` cess 61, the panel 32 being biased thereagainst by the arcuate section 52 of the retainer 4S. it is to be noted that only a single staple 66 is required to maintain the laforementioned bias.

Referring now to FIGURES 4, and 6l, a sealing construction in accordance with the present invention is applied to the juncture of a'pair of panels that lie in substantially the same plane. It is to be understood that such a sealing construction is applicable to any portion of the van 22 where adjacent panels lie in substantially the same plane.

A panel 169 having an edge portion 102 is disposed in overlapping relationship with an edge portion 104 of an adjacent panel 166. The panel 106 is provided with a hollow recess or channel 116 extending the length of and generally parallel to the edge portion 104 thereof for the acceptance of the sealing compound. As best seen in FIG. 6, the edge portion 194 of the panel 106 is preferably initially angularly related to a main portion 111 thereof so that when the edge portions '2 and 104 are drawn together, as by a rivet 112, the edge portion 102 contacts the edge portion 104 in spaced line` engagement or Y Contact on opposite sides of the recess 119. Upon drawing of the edge portions 102 and 104 together, the edge 'portion 104 is biased to the position shown in FIG. 5

and held in this position as by the rivet 112. It is to be noted that only one row of rivets is required to maintain the aforementioned spaced line Contact that flexibly holds the sealing compound within the recess 111i. The sealing compound is injected into the recess 11i)` through a plu- "rality of aligned inlet orilices 114, each of which has a conical seat 116 for the acceptance of a complementary nozzle on an applicator.

Referring now to FIG. 7, an applicator 129 having a conical end portion 122 complementary to the seats 74 and 116 of the aforementioned orifices 72 and 114 in the rail 36 and panel 1&6, respectively, is shown in alignment with the oriice 72. The applicator 120 has a central bore 124 for the passage of the sealing compound therethrough into the recess 70. The tapered portion 122 provides for a sealing fit in the seat 74 during injection of the sealing compound and both locates the nozzle and precludes loss of the sealing compound.

Referring to FIGS. S and 9, a sealing construction in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention is shown for the juncture of, for example, ad-

joining iioor panels G and 156.

The licor panel 156 has a liange 152 -spaced upwardly from a generally planar portion 153 thereof for engagement with a complementary upper flange 154 on the adjacent licor panel 156. The panels 150 and 156 may be provided with upstanding generally T-shaped ribs 158 and 160, respectively, for the support of conventional oorboards (not shown). The panels 159 and 156 are supported by suitable transverse members 162, which may be, for example, the structural or frame members of the trailer 2t). The panels 15d and 156 are secured to the frame members 162 as by a plurality of self-thread ing metal screws 164.

In accordance with the present invention, the tlange 152 of the panel 150 has a horizontally extending terminal edge portion 170 with a vertically extending rib 172 thereon. The iiange 152 and terminal edge portion 170 thereof are spaced upwardly from the planar portion 153 of the panel 154) for the acceptance of a complementary lower iiange 18) on the floor panel 156. .The iiange of the panel 156 has a vertically standing rib 152 and a horizontally extending terminal edge portion 1&4 that engages the underside of the-horizontally extending flange 152 of the panel 150. The lower flange 18d has an upwardly extending rib portion 186 spaced inwardly from the rib 182 thereon for the support of the upper ilange 154. The flange 154 has an upwardly extending rib 188 thereon for engagement in abutting relationship with the rib 172 on the terminal edge portion 17@ of the panel 156 thereby to positionand align the panels and 156 with respect to one another'. It is to be noted that the terminal edge portion of the panel 156 is accepted under the upper liange 154 of the anel 156.

lt is to be noted that a recess 190 is delined by the superimposed anges 152 and`180 of the panels 15G and 156, respectively. The terminal flange `152 of the panel 159 is provided with a plurality of spaced and aligned oriiices 192 having conical seats 194 .thereon for the acceptance of the nozzle portion 122 of the compound applicator 120 thereby to facilitate injection of the sealing compound into the recess 140. The sealing com pound is positively held in the recess 190 by engagement of the panels 159 and 156 at two spaced apart lines or ridges defined by engagement of the terminal edge portion 184 of the panel 156 with the underside of the flange 152 of the panel 150 and by engagement of the terminal edge portion 17@ of the panel 150 with the underside of the upper liange 154 on the panel 156. Utilizing this construction, only a single row of Screws i164 is required to hold down the panel 156 and adjoining panel 159 thereby to define the longitudinal recess 1% for the acceptance of the sealing compound.

From the foregoing description, it should be apparent that the sealing construction of the present invention provides for the positive sealing of an enclosure against the iniiltration of water and foreign materials. The construction in each embodiment comprises a iirst panel having a terminal edge portion having means detining a recess extending generally parallel thereto. A second panel has a terminal edge portion overlapping the recess in Ithe first panel and is engageable with the iirst panel on each side of the recess therein. A single row of screwsyrivets or the like draws the edge portions of the iirst and second panels into engagement. A sealing compound is then injected into the recess to effect the seal. In practice, suliicient sealing compound is injected into an orifice until flowage thereof along the recess is visible at the next adjacent orice. In this manner, successive injections insure that a continuous mass of sealing compound is disposed ybetween adjoining panels.

It is to be understood that the specific constructions of the improved sealing construction herein disclosed and described are presented for the purpose of explanalimits of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A sealing construction for sealing adjoining panels of a van-type body of a truck against the iniiltration of water and foreign materials, said construction comprising a first panel having a terminal edge portion with an undercut portion thereon defining a recess, said first panel having a ange spaced from the terminal edge portion on the opposite side of the recess from the terminal edge portion thereof, a second panel having a terminal edge portion overlapping the recess in said rst panel and engageable with the terminal edge and flange portions of said first panel, means for drawing said second panel into enga-gement with the terminal edge and flange portions of said rst panel to close the recess therein, and means for injecting a sealing com-pound into the recess in said iirst panel comprising a plurality of spaced apertures in said first panel communicating with the recess therein.

2. A sealing construction for sealing adjoining panels of a van-type body of a motor vehicle against the infiltration of water and foreign materials, said construction comprising a iirst panel having a terminal edge portion with an undercut portion thereon defining a recess, said rst panel having a normally extending iiange with a reentrantly directed end portion, a second panel having a terminal edge portion overlapping the recess in said first panel and engageable with the terminal edge and flange portions of said iirst panel, a retainer plate engageable in the reentrantly folded portion of the flange on said iirst panel and with said second panel for drawing said second panel into engagement with the terminal edge and flange portions of said first panel to close the recess therein, and means for injecting a sealing compound into the recess comprising a plurality of spaced apertures in said first panel communicating with the recess therein.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,155,717 Fonts Oct. 5, 1915 2,266,702 Byers Dec. 16, 1941 2,566,282 Bradley et al. Aug. 28, 1951 2,698,269 Snssenbach Dec. 28, 1954 2,751,109 Moore June 19, 1956 2,842,074 Hess et al. July 8, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 602,715 Great Britain June 1, 1948 

1. A SEALING CONSTRUCTION FOR SEALING ADJOINING PANELS OF A VAN-TYPE BODY OF A TRUCK AGAINST THE INFILTRATION OF WATER AND FOREING MATERIALS, SAID CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A FIRST PANEL HAVING A TERMINAL EDGE PORTION WITH AND UNDERCUT PORTION THEREON DEFINING A RECESS, SAID FIRST PANEL A FIRST PANEL HAVING A TERMINAL EDGE PORTION WITH AN UNDERCUT PORTION THEREON DEFINING A RECESS, SAID FIRST PANEL HAVING A FLANGE SPACED FROM THE TERMINAL EDGE PORTION ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE RECESS FROM THE TERMINAL EDGE PORTION THEREOF, A SECOND PANEL HAVING A TERMINAL EDGE PORTION OVERLAPPING THE RECESS IN SAID FIRST PANEL AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE TERMINAL EDGE AND FLANGE PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST PANEL TO CLOSE THE RECESS THEREIN, AND MEANS FOR INJECTING A SEALING COMPOUND INTO THE RECESS IN SAID FIRST PANEL COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SPACED APERTURES IN SAID FIRST PANEL COMMUNICATING WITH THE RECESS THEREIN. 